Police command structure crumbled fast during Capitol riot

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, many of the police officers had to decide on their own how to fight them off. There was no direction. No plan. And no top leadership.

One cop ran from one side of the building to another, fighting hand-to-hand against rioters. Another decided to respond to any calls of officers in distress and spent three hours helping cops who had been immobilized by bear spray or other chemicals.

Three officers were able to handcuff one rioter. But a crowd swarmed the group and took the arrested man away with the handcuffs still on.

Interviews with four members of the U.S. Capitol Police who were overrun by rioters on Jan. 6 show just how quickly the command structure collapsed as throngs of people, egged on by President Donald Trump, set upon the Capitol. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because the department has threatened to suspend anyone who speaks to the media.

“We were on our own,” one of the officers told The Associated Press. “Totally on our own.”

The officers who spoke to the AP said they were given next to no warning by leadership on the morning of Jan. 6 about what would become a growing force of thousands of rioters, many better armed than the officers themselves were. And once the riot began, they were given no instructions by the department’s leaders on how to stop the mob or rescue lawmakers who had barricaded themselves inside. There were only enough officers for a routine day.

Three officers told the AP they did not hear Chief Steven Sund on the radio the entire afternoon. It turned out he was sheltering with Vice President Mike Pence in a secure location for some of the siege. Sund resigned the next day.

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/police-command-structure-crumbled-fast-151646335.html

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JFC!

[Girard442]

1. I sometimes wonder if it was a mistake to tell the rest of us to avoid DC on the 6th.

Imagine if the area had been swamped with thousands of peaceful observers, linking arms.

[UpInArms]

2. Truly

They would have had a riot squad and helicopters to beat the crowd back and down

[IronLionZion]

3. Absolutely not a mistake

Trump's people still control the pentagon and DC national guard, whose orders were to protect the pro-Trump protesters from any Antifa or anti-Trump protesters.

I live here, and having fewer people would be better for getting the situation under control That's why our mayor put in a 6 PM curfew. And there were brawls on the streets away from the Capitol area between pro and anti Trump protesters. It was disgusting. Pro-Trump idiots went around spray painting residential buildings including mine.

[UpInArms]

5. I am so sorry

They were allowed to terrorize you and your home

[yardwork]

4. Disgraceful dereliction of duty by leadership.

[marble falls]

6. "No top leadership!" ... just like the rest of this nation for the last four years.

[BlueIdaho]

7. Trump Appointees took their phones off the hook.

They can’t be trusted. Not then, not now.

[yaesu]

8. Failed leadership caused by 4+ years of failed national leadership but we must remember

that we as a party have been against militarizing police forces, the Capital Police & support agencies should not have been put in a position to stop hundreds of angry, RW terrorists anyway, they are not equipped for that nor should they be. The Feds had plenty of time and warning to put NG in place to negate this terrorist attack but it was blocked by the terrorist, criminal tRump administration. I do not want a police force equipped & trained to deal with a mass attack, that job should only be done by the military who we spend 700 billion dollars a year to defend us.

[myohmy2]

9. wow...

...and most of our federal elected officials all located in one spot?

...can you imagine if foreign terrorists knew how easy it was?

...someone needs to be held accountable...

...unbelievable...